Interlocking stovepipe casing



Sept. 14 1926.

' M. L. SWEENEY INTERLOCKING sTovEPIPE cAsING Filed oet. 30, 1922 l 5 0 3 v M 3% WIALV [lvl/:frog: MORGAN L- wEE viIIIIII rlllllfllll.

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Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

units stares istanza OFFICE.

MORGAN L. SWEENEY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNFZA, ASSIC'IIOR TO UNION TANK & PIPE CO., A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNA.

INTERLOCKING STOVEPIPE CASING.` i

Application filed October 30, 1922.

This invention relates to the manufacture of stove pipe casing, and consists of a casing comprised of overlapping tubular metal sheets secured together` in the improved and novel manner hereinafter described. l

ln the drilling of oil wells in the deep fields of California, it is common practice to start the hole at a large diameter', sometimes 15H or more. This hole is carried down for a distance of arfew hundred feet, and a string of casing is set therein for the 'purpose of shutting oif the loose. surface .material so as to prevent it from caving into the well. A form of casing in common use for this purpose is called stove pipe casing and is formed of metal sheets which are bent into cylindrical form and riveted in the form of two sizes of pipe which are placed in two concentric layers with the outer pipe overlapping the abutting joints of the inner pipes so that a continuous tubular member, or casing is formed.

This invention concerns chieiiy an i1nproved manner for securing the inner and outer layers of sheet metal together in such a manner that the casing structure is given a. substantially integral formation, and is likewise reinforced against collapsing stresses and prevented from pulling apart when the casing is being lifted or pulled :trom a hole.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide stove pipe casing formed of two overlapping layers and which is provided Vwith novel and effective means for securing the overlapping layers together.

The especial advantages of my invention and further objects thereof will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a stove pipe casing embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Y Fig. 2 is a section similar to Fig. 1 showing an alternative manner in which the rectangular indentations may be. formed.

Fig. 3 -is alsection taken substantially upon a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. .11 is a fragmentary section illustrating the manner in which the consecutive Iene-tbs Gister@ pire Gesine may be joined together as they are-'lowered into the hole.,

- In the preferred ferm Of my invention.

Serial No. 597,849.

s shown in Fig..1 and Fig. 8 inner pipe members 11 and 12 are enclosed by outer pipe members 14 and 15, the outer pipe members being offset with relation to joints 16 between abutting ends of the inner pipe members 11 and 12, so that joints 17 of the outer pipe members 14 and 15 come substantially in the centers of the adjacent inner pipe members 11 and 12, and the joint-1G between the inner pipe members being likewise centrally disposed with relation to the adjacent outer pipe members.

is shown in Fig. 3, ,the inner pipe mem- `ers indicated at 12 are formed of a sheet of metal 2O which is rolled into the cylindrical form shown, with the ends 21 thereof overlapping so that theyv can be riveted together indicated at 22 inthe form of a pipe. The outer pipe members as indicated at 15 in Fig. 3 are likewise rolled into cylindrical form, and the overlapping ends thereof riveted as shown at v23.

The featureof overlapping the inner and outer pipe provides a projecting halflength of an outer pipe 15 at one end of the length of casing, as shown at 25 in Fig. 1, while at the other end of the casing a half-length of an inner pipe 11 is causedto project from the outer pipe 1li, in a manner similar to 'that indicated at 26 in Fig. 2.

The'inner and outer pipe members, when placed together as shown in Fig. 1, are indented with non-intersecting indentations 80 which may be depressed in the adjacently disposed metal sheets forming the inner and outer pipes. In the drawing I` have shown the indentations 30 inwardly depressed, but this feature is merely a matter of preference and does not materially affect the especial feature of the` invention, which consistsof the formingof the indentations 30, which are preferably of quadri-lateral form, such as diamond shape and disposed horizontally with respect to the vertical axis of the casing member. i

1t will be perceived in respect to the interlocking depressions formed in the overl aying plates, that the abrupt inner edges ofthe diamond 33, formed. in theinner pipes 11 and 12, are engaged theabrupt outer edges of the diamond` 34 idepres'sed.in'the` outer pipes as shown at ,'35, thus'providing two interloeking shoulders.v which receive strains placedaxially in the casing when it is being lowered into or ra-i'sedfrom a'liole.

The edges 37 of the diamonds 33 and 34 are preferably disposed at equal angles with respect to the vertical axis of the casing and serve to prevent a rotative tendency of the inner members with respect to the outer pipe, when strains are incurred within the casing which would tend to cause the pipes to slide relative to each other in an axial direction. This action would be impossible owing to the fact that it would be necessary, in this construction, in order to accomplish the sliding of the outer pipes lll and l5 upon the inner pipes ll and l2, to shear off the depressed diamonds lle formed in the outer pipes. The disposal of portions of the material forming the inner and outer pipes at angles to these pipes provides a reinforcing of the casing members against collapse due to externally applied pressure, such as the caving of the sides of the hole after the casing has been set in place.

It will be perceived from the drawing that the separate rows of indentations 30 are so disposed that the lateral points of the diamond in one row extend 'between' the points of the diamonds in another row, thus giving an overlapping relative disposition of the large reinforcing` areas formed by the diamonds. In this manner there exists no intermediate straight vertical planes upon which casing could collapse under externally applied pressure, because any vertical plane passing through the casing would cut portions of the reinforcing depressions. By providing the depressions in the diamond form shown, it is possible to make them of considerable size and yet accomplish the desired reinforcingr of the casing.

Thus there is provided a well casing of double wall construction and consisting of a plurality of relatively short sections assembled in overlapping break-joint relation, with both walls subsequently deformed at intervals spaced cireularly and vertically, to provide interlocking depressions having abrupt co-engaging edges and maintaininfVr the several sections against longitudinal separation and relative rotation and the en tire structure against rupture or collapse, said depressions being circularly spaced in rows which are relatively spaced vertically and the depressions in each row being arranged to overlap those in the adjacent rows to provide intermediate continuous undeformed wall portions extending in Zig-zag or substantially ogee paths among the several depressions, whereby each depressionis isolated from the adjacent depressions so that none of the depressions encircle the casing or extend for more than a short distance vertically. It will be noted further, that certain of the circular rows of depressions are aligned with each of t-he Yjoints between adjacent sections or members of the casing.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing the indentations 30, having diamond form as indicated at 40, may be placed with the longer axis vertically extending; but the preferred form of practising the invention is that, which is shown in Fig. l, with the diamond depressions horizontally disposed.

n Fig. el. of the drawing is illustrated the manner in which casing lengths such shown in Fig. l and Fig. 2 are consecutively joined together at the well as they are lcwered into the hole. rihe projecting inner casing as shown at 26 is placed within a projecting outer casing as indicated at These projecting ends are left cylindrical and not provided with indentations, in order that one may slip freely within the other. Holes are cut in the overlapping ends of the casing by the use of an acetylene torch an-d the holes then filled with a plug of solid metal which is fused into the walls in the holes 50 by the use of a welding torch and built up in the customary manner to lill the entire hole. Being so fused to both the inner and outer plates, an integrally'formed rivet is provided which has ample strength to sustain any load placed thereupon in the handling of casing.

l claim as my invention:

l. In a well casing, the combination of: inner tubular members; outer tubular meme bers upon said inner tubular members; and non-intersecting impressions having abrupt interlocking` edges of quadrilateral outline and formed in said inner and outer tubular members at intervals relatively spaced circu larly and longitudinally.

2. A combination, as in claim l, in which said quadrilateral impressions have the diagonals thereof substantially uniformly disposed on opposite sides of the vertical axis of said impressions.

3. A combination, as in claim l, in which said quadrilateral impressions are diamond shaped, with their interlocking edges substantially parallel and normal to the axis of said tubular members.

4. A combination, as in claim 1, in which said impressions are diamond shaped and are disposed with their longer diagonale in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tubular members.

5. A combination, as in claim l, in which the edge walls of said quadrilateral impressions are substantially perpendicular to the walls of said tubular members.

6. A combination, as defined in claim l, in which said impressions extend inwardly.

7. A combination, as defined in claim l, in which said inner and outer members are formed from sheet material and have overlapping joints.

8. A combination, as deiined in claim l, in which said inner and outer tubular members comprise sections, said sectionsaaf said inner tubular member being staggered relatively to said outer tubular member.

9. A Well casing of double Wall construction comprising: a plurality-orl pipe sections assembled in overlapping break-joint relation, With both Walls deformed at intervals spaced circularly and vertically to provide interlocking depressions having abrupt coengaging edges, the several deformations being arranged in relative overlapping alignment to provide intermediate continuous undeformed Wall portions eXtending in substantially zig-zag paths to isolate each deformation from the several adjacent deformations.

10. A Well casing of double Wall construction comprising: a plurality of pipe sections assembled in overlapping break-joint relation, with both Walls deformed at intervals to provide interlocking depressions having abrupt co-engaging edges, said depressions being circularly spaced in rows which are 'relatively spacedA vertically and the depressions in each roW being arranged to overlap those in the adjacent rows to provide intermediate continuous undeformed Wall portions eXtending in substantially ogee paths to isolate each depression from the several adjacent depressions.

ll. A Well casing as deiined in claim 9, f

in which certain of the deformations are aligned with each joint between the pipe sections.

12. A Well casing as defined in claim 10, in Which certain of the rovvs of depressions are aligned with the joints between the pipe sections.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 2l day of Oct., 1922.

MORGAN L. SVVEENE-Y. 

